Rear Wheel Skirt using water heater drain pan

[cfg83]

Old Tele man -

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

...OK, when are you gonna DIY your own engine out of super-glue and empty soda cans -- Automotive McGiver? (ha,ha)

...great work!

Well ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR9KRBooSyU

CarloSW2

[NachtRitter]

Originally Posted by cfg83

5 - Hard corner angles are not aero-friendly. But, for a more ambitiuous builder, the heater drain pan could be the "foundation" for a more aero-clean implementation.
CarloSW2

Had a thought on this, which might address both the gap and the hard edges... since I notice the same after my test install...

If I could find rubber weatherstripping that has a "T" shape, then it would be possible to put the leg of the "T" into the gap (which also helps address the size issue as you did in post #13) and use the top of the "T" to smooth the transition from body to skirt... I crudely tried to illustrate what I mean in the image below, which hopefully is somewhat clearer than mud....



Judicious application of a heat gun would help stretch / shrink the weatherstripping around the radius of the wheel well.

I've seen some T-shaped weatherstripping, but nothing that has a big enough "T" to fit between the wheel well and the skirt... has anyone else seen something like that where the "T" is ~1 1/2" to 2"? If not, maybe a pair of "L"-shapes back to back would work.

[NachtRitter]

Originally Posted by cfg83

NachtRitter -

Yes, I retired v1.0 and bought two new pans. There is a 1" overlap of the pans. There is a little "belly button" of plastic at the dead center of the drain pan where I think the plastic was injected. My friend made that the center point and we nailed it down onto a board. Then we ran each pan through his band saw by turning it around that center point. That was the key to cutting it accurately. Otherwise it would have been agony to cut by hand.

Carlos -

Brilliant! I enjoy simple solutions to seemingly difficult problems....

[NachtRitter]

Ah, here's some windshield trim that has the right shape... though I'm not sure about the actual size...



Available from Metro Moulded Parts Inc. Automotive Weatherstrip and Rubber Parts... have to see if there's a local place that I can get a sample from.

[deejaaa]

have you considered using a rivet type screw.

[deejaaa]

like this,
Picasa Web Albums - deejaaa
og link,
http://www.constructiondistribution.com/print/Construction-Distribution/Products--Fasteners-and-Anchors/1$714

[XJguy]

Fine work...

[cfg83]

deejaaa -

Very een-tay-rest-ink :


I would say the bolt sticks out too much, a lot like my first design, but I could probably switch to a flush bolt. The back also sticks out a lot, but maybe not much different from what I already have with the plastic pop-rivets. These "riv-floats" might be better for mounting my plastic wheel cover.

CarloSW2

[Christ]

Carlos, not sure if you figured out something for the flush mount screws, but you can get furniture screws from a hardware store (ask specifically), and just fold the teeth back over on them with a hammer and some light taps. They're usually square, but also come round at times. They're nuts, not screws. You would normally drill a hole in the wood, then tap/glue them into the hole, and the little teeth that are just folded sections of the body would then bite in on the plane perpendicular to the screw's insertion. They're commonly found on furniture with removable feet, such as sofas and ottomans. They're easy to remove with a slide hammer, as well, and can take a good beating.

I'd also chance a guess that the "binder" quality screws would hold up pretty well, too, as long as you kept them away from salt and such. You wouldn't believe what paper can do to a screw if it's dropped, thrown, etc.. and I've personally seen those screws take some abuse.

[cfg83]

Christ -

Thanks. For my wheel cover fastneres, I think am close to what you are describing. I am going in the direction of T-Nuts on the inside of the faux plastic lug nuts :



I haven't posted it yet because I have been underwater with other @#$&@#* distractions.

CarloSW2